Keeping Lent at IHM

The Second Vatican Council renewed the Liturgy of the Hours and desired that Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer especially would become once again the daily prayer of all the Church.

Consisting of psalms, readings, songs, silence, incense and prayer, Evening Prayer is both an offering of praise to the Father and a prayer of intercession for the needs of the world.

On the Wednesday evenings of Lent, from March 13 through April 10, we will celebrate Lenten Evening Prayer in the church at 7:00 p.m.

Abstinence from meat is observed by all Catholics 14 years and older on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent.  Fasting is observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59.  Those bound by this rule may take only one full meal.  Two smaller meals are permitted as necessary to maintain strength according to one's needs.

The Fridays outside of Lent remain days of penance, but one may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some practice of voluntary self-denial or personal penance, such as daily Mass, personal service to the aged or the sick, fasting once a week with the poor and hungry of the world, or prayer for peace.

A single violation of these Lenten regulations is not a serious sin.  General or substantial neglect of the obligation would be a serious matter.

Menu: 
March 8 – fried and broiled fish, french fries, hush puppies, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw.
March 15 – fried and broiled fish, french fries, hush puppies, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw.
March 22 – fried and broiled fish, french fries, hush puppies, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw.
March 29 – fried and broiled fish, french fries, hush puppies, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw.
April 5 – fried and broiled fish, french fries, hush puppies, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw.
April 12 – fried and broiled fish, french fries, hush puppies, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw.

Drink options will be wil lbe water, tea and lemonade; wine and beer will be available with a donation.

Dine-in or take-out available.

This is the fasting that I wish, says the LORD:
releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke;
setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke;
sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.

- Isaiah 58:6-7

Ash Wednesday is March 6. Lent begins with the imposition of ashes made from last year’s blessed palm branches. Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence. Ashes will be distributed during:

• 7:00 a.m. Morning Prayer (Spanish)
• 8:30 a.m. Mass
• 10:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Word (for schoolchildren)
• 12:00 p.m. Midday Prayer
• 5:00 p.m. Mass 
• 7:00 p.m. Evening Prayer
• 8:30 p.m. Mass (Spanish)

Our Lent Penance Service is Monday, March 18, at 7:00 p.m.  At this time we will join the previously-baptized candidates for the full communion of the Catholic Church in celebrating a brief rite of word, prayer and song, as together we express our contrition and hope to rise with Christ beyond sin and death.  Plan to celebrate this healing sacrament on this night when Monsignor Al and Father Carlos will have the assistance of many neighboring priests for individual confessions.

Note that there will be no confessions during Sacred Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

For Catholics throughout the world, the Stations of the Cross are synonymous with Lent.  This devotion, known variously as the "Way of the Cross," "Via Crucis" or "Via Dolorosa," commemorates 14 key events on the day of Christ's crucifixion.  The Stations originated in medieval Europe when wars prevented Christian pilgrims from visiting the Holy Land.

During Lent, the Stations of the Cross allow us, too, to become pilgrims to the places and moments of sacred memory.  The Stations will be observed on Fridays,March 8 through April 12, at 6:30 p.m. in English and at 7:30 in Spanish.

Fish Fry
The IHM Men's Club will offer a Fish Fry in the school cafeteria on each of the Fridays of Lent, March 8 through April 12, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.Price is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for kids under 12, and kids 4 and under are free.  Beer and wine are available for a donation. 
Come keep your Lenten abstinence from meat in the company of your parish family!

These elect, whom we bring with us to the Easter sacraments,
will look to us for an example of Christian renewal.
- Rite of Election

Lent originated in the early church as a season of purification and enlightenment for those preparing for baptism.  Lent continues to have a strong baptismal character as it renews the whole church, calling us to a holy resistance to evil, a more single-hearted lifestyle, purer worship, and deeper communion among the members of the Body of Christ.  The Rite of Election celebrates God's call to our Catechumens to the waters of Baptism at Easter and calls our alread-baptized Candidates to continuing conversion as they prepare to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

We celebrate God's call here at Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Rite of Sending on Saturday, March 9, at the 6:00 p.m. Spanish Mass and Sunday, March 10, at the 11:30 a.m. English Mass.  Our prayers send these catechumens and candidates to the Rite of Election with Archbishop Gregory the following Sunday March 10 at 2:00 p.m. at the Georgia World Cogress Center.  All are welcome.

Throughout Lent, the names of the Elect, inscribed in the Book of the Elect, are placed near the baptismal font.  On the third, fourth, and fifth Sundays of Lent we celebrate Scrutinies for the Elect at the 11:30 a.m. Mass in English and at the 1:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish, in preparation for the Easter Sacraments.

When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret.  And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
- Matthew 6:4

Mustard Seed was founded in 1978 by Father Gregory Ramkisson, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica, as a home for children with disabilities on the outskirts of Kingston.  Mustard Seed Communities have since expanded into Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, and Zimbabwe.

The majority of Mustard Seed programs are dedicated to the care of children with serious physical and mental disabilities such as Down's syndrome, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy.  MSC also cares for children affected by HIV/AIDS.  Originally established to provide hospice care, the children now thrive through the care they receive at Mustard Seed homes, and many are now reaching adulthood.

During our 13-year collaboration with Mustard Seed Communities in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, IHM has provided over 1,200 man-days and $200,000 of direct support in the form of missionary travel and donations.  Additionally we have provided funds for the purchase of diapers, medicines, and much-needed equipment.  We have provided medical services, painted, built walls, landscaped, tiled, built cottages, screened porches, gardened, built sidewalks, and loved the children on your behalf and because of your generosity.

Mustard Seed missionaries from IHM will be serving in Jamaica February 24-March 3 and in the Dominican Republic this year.  Please keep them and those they will serve in your prayers throughout Lent.

On Ash Wednesday and on each of the Sundays of Lent, there will be an opportunity after Mass in the narthex to contribute to the needs of Mustard Seed.  Look for updates in upcoming bulletins as well.